On May 4th 2012, U.S. Customs and Border Protection ("CBP") signed a Mutual Recognition Decision between CBP's Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism ("C-TPAT") and European Union's Authorized Economic Operator ("AEO"). Both programs aim at strengthening and improving the overall international supply chain, and require trade members to meet specific supply chain security criteria in exchange for benefits and incentives such as fewer shipment inspections and expedited shipment processing.